Volume 4, Number 12 - North Country News, December, 2011.

Elverta - rio Linda - Pleasant Grove - Antelope - North Highlands - McClellan - Sacramento - Natomas 

North Country News 

ESTABLISHED 2008....THE BEST PAPEr IN TOWN !!!! 

VOL. 4 NO. 12 • • • • • December 2011 • • • • • SINGLE COPY FrEE 

Inside This Issue...... 

Foodlink dates - page 2 

Bits & Pieces - page 3 

Library - page 4 

Business Listings - page 5 

Quotes - Words of Wisdom - page 6 

In Memory - page 6 

Church & Community - page 7 

Highlands Reunion Photos - page 8 

Yummy Yums - page 9 

Viv's Opinion on War - page 10 

Social & Fraternal - page 10 

Lew's Club - page 11 

School News - pages 14 - 15 

Ads & Events - page 16 

Kick off the Christmas Season in Rio Linda Elverta 

starting with the first ever annual Santa Breakfast at 

the Community Center, 810 Oak Lane in Rio Linda 

from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. This new community 

event features pancakes, eggs, ham and beverage 

for only $5 per person & kids under 3 eat f r e e. 

Enjoy breakfast - Crafts for the kids. 

Santa photos and more! 

PRSRT STD 

ECRWSS 

U.S. POSTAGE 

PAID 

EDDM Retail 

POSTAL CUSTOMER 

www.NCNews328.com 

The first annual Santa Breakfast and Old Fashion Christmas 

presented by the Rio Linda Elverta Recreation and Parks District, 

the Rio Linda/Elverta Historical Society & the Oak Tree Diner 

Saturday December 3 rd 

Then hop on a f r e e tractor drawn hay 

wagon and enjoy caroling to the 

Historic Dry Creek Ranch House, 6852 

Dry Creek Rd. where Mrs. Claus will waiting to read Christmas stories 

and Santa will hear your wish list. Tour the decorated Dry Creek Ranch 

House Museum and munch on Christmas cookies, with hot chocolate or 

cider. Then take another hay ride back to the Community Center. 

Free Hay rides will operate round trip from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. 

This is the perfect start to the Christmas Season with a unique Rio Linda Elverta event that you won't find anywhere else! 

Annual Tree Lighting and Holiday Social 

The Rio Linda Elverta Chamber of Commerce 

will hold their annual Holiday Social on 

Saturday, December 17 

at the 

Community Center, 810 Oak Lane in Rio Linda 

starting at 4:00p.m. 

Rio Linda and Elverta have many residences and businesses 

that go all out for Christmas decorations. 

Be sure to get a map to see all the 

Rio Linda Elverta lights and decorations. 

This annual event is cosponsored with the 

Rio Linda Elverta Recreation and Parks District. 

For more information please call the 

Rio Linda Elverta Chamber of Commerce and Civic League: 991-9344 

RLE Visions Task 

Force meets 

Monday Dec. 12 

RLE Visions Task Force Steering 

Committee will have TRUSD Superintendant 

Frank Porter as guest 

speaker for the Monday, December 

12 meeting. Mr. Porter will update 

the RLE Visions Task Force on the 

status of the new Rio Linda Library 

and other issues. The public 

is invited to attend. 

RLE Visions Task Force meets 

every 2nd Monday at the Depot, 

6730 Front St. in Rio Linda from 

7-8 p.m. 

Rio Linda celebrates 100 Years 

as a community in 2012 

Planning has begun for the celebration of Rio Linda's 100th Birthday in 2012. 

The Centennial Planning Committee in cooperation with TRUSD will sponsor 

a poster contest in the Rio Linda Schools with three divisions of judging: 

K-3rd Grade; 4th to 6th Grades; and 7th to 12th Grades. The Poster 

Contest winners will 

have their art work 

displayed on Centennial 

items such as Rio Linda’s 

tee shirts, mugs, pennants, 

banners, hats, 

and other advertising 

Centennial 

merchandise to raise 

funds for the Centennial 

Celebration expenses. 

Judging for the Centennial 

Poster Contest 

will be in May during 

the annual TRUSD 

celebration of the 

school's accomplishments. 

The Rio Linda/Elverta 

Historical Society 

has agreed to sponsor 

a Time Capsule. Stay 

tuned for more details 

on submissions for 

the Time Capsule and 

when items can start 

being submitted. 

The Centennial Planning 

Committee welcomes 

all groups, 

organizations, individuals 

and anyone 

interested in Celebrating 

Rio Linda's 

100 Years as a community. 

Please join us at the 

next meeting. 

Celebration 

Centennial Planning Meeting 

December 5, 2011 

7:00 p.m. 

Fire Station 111 

Community Room 

6609 Rio Linda Blvd. in Rio Linda 

Hosted by the 

Rio Linda/Elverta Historical Society 

All Groups • Organizations • 

Churches • Schools • Individuals 

are encouraged to participate in 

celebrating 

Rio Linda’s 100th Birthday

Page 2 North Country News December 2011 

RIO LINDA’S SENIOR 

BROWN BAG 

PROGRAM 

Rio Linda’s Brown Bag program is held the first 

Thursday of every month. This month’s will be 

Dec. 1st If you are already signed up for Elverta’s 

Brown Bag program you may not sign 

up for Rio Linda’s. 

The food is supplied by Foodlink, a non profit 

organization that distributes food to seniors and 

disabled persons through out California. 

For additional information on qualification and 

how to register please call the Park District office 

at 916-991-5929 

ELVERTA'S 

SENIOR BROWN BAG 

TUESDAY - Dec. 13 th 

Elverta Fire Station at Elwyn & Elverta Rd. 

For those 60 years old or disabled. 

Must be pre-registered. 

Call Nancy 387-9000 or register 

at the Fire Station 

Volunteer helpers … 9:00 a.m. 

Pick up bags from:10:00 to 12 noon. 

Please Be Prompt 

IT’S FIREWOOD SEASON – BUYER BEWARE 

Next Regular 

RLECWD 

BOARD 

MEETING 

Dec. 19 th 

6:30 p.m. 

Depot Visitors Center 

6730 Front Street 

916-991-1000 

Th e c o r d is T h e s Ta n d a r d m e a s u r e m e n T f o r s a l e 

SACRAMENTO, December 2011 — As winter 

nears and the nights turn chilly, many people will 

choose to heat their homes with a nice, warm wood 

fire in the fireplace. While there are many wood 

dealers eager to sell at attractive prices, how do 

consumers know they're getting a good, fair deal? 

The only way to know for sure is to measure what 

is sold. 

Firewood has its own special unit of measurement 

called a "cord." Firewood, in units of 1/8th of a 

cord and above, must be sold by the cord or fractions 

of a cord. A cord of wood by law must equal 

128 cubic feet. To determine if there is a cord, the 

wood must be measured when it is "ranked and 

well stowed." This means the wood is stacked 

neatly in a row with the pieces of wood parallel and touching with as few gaps as possible. If, when 

measured, the width times the height, times the length equals 128 cubic feet, it is a cord of wood. 

Prices per cord vary throughout the state. In Southern California, the range is from $230-$480 per 

cord; in the Bay Area, $150-$400; in the Central Valley, $100-$275. 

Consumers should be wary of terms such as "pallet," "face cord," "rack," "rick," "tier," "pile," or 

"truck-load," as these terms are illegal to use in the sale of firewood. If a seller uses such terms, 

consumers should be on alert for a possible problem. 

Some wood dealers try to sell firewood from a pick-up truck. Consumers should be on their guard, 

because a pick-up cannot hold a cord of firewood. An 8-foot truck bed can hold one-half of a cord 

while a 6-foot bed can barely hold one-third of a cord. 

Consumers are urged to get an invoice or delivery ticket that contains the name and address of the 

seller, the date purchased or delivered, the quantity purchased, and the price. The seller is required 

by law to provide this information in writing. Consumers may also want to take note of the license 

plate of the delivery vehicle. 

If consumers believe they have not received the quantity ordered and paid for, they may call the seller 

to correct the problem. Consumers should try to maintain the 

wood in the condition it was delivered, take a photograph, 

and do not burn any. If the seller can't or won't correct the 

problem, the next step would be contact with a local county 

weights and measures office as soon as possible at: http:// 

www.cdfa.ca.gov/exec/county/county_contacts.html or the 

California Department of Food and Agriculture's Division 

of Measurement Standards at (916) 229-3000. 

Food Closet 

The Rio Linda & Elverta Ministerial Association 

Food Closet serves zip codes 95673 & 

95626 only. 

The Food Closet is located at the Rio Linda 

United Methodist Church, 6800 6 th St. at the 

corner of 6 th and M St. in Rio Linda, across 

from the Rio Linda Elementary School. 

The Food Closet is open on Thursdays from 

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. 

you must provide proof of address and identification 

for everyone in your household that 

is requesting food. 

Donations are needed including canned and 

dry goods that can be made into nutritional 

meals. 

Please join the 

Rio Linda/Elverta 

Historical Society 

for their Annual Christmas 

Potluck & Raffle on 

Sunday - December 4 th 

Place: Calvary Lutheran Church 

5th and L Streets, Rio Linda 

Time: 1:00 p.m. 

The public is invited. 

Please bring a dish to share 

and a gift for the raffle. 

The Society will provide 

Turkey, Dressing and gravy. 

Everyone is welcome. 

Donations are gratefully accepted 

NORTH COUNTRy NEWS 

North of Sacramento 

Elverta • Rio Linda • Pleasant Grove 

Copyright 2011 by Vivien Spicer Johnson 

Published Monthly • Circulation 10,000 

PO Box 328, Elverta, CA 95626 

Fax: 916-991-9536 

Email: NCNews328@aol.com 

Visit the web site: www.NCNews328.com 

Vivien Spicer Johnson 

Owner, Publisher and Managing Editor 

ADVERTISEMENTS 

For a price quote please Fax: 916-991-9536 or 

Email…NCNews328 @ aol.com. 

NEWS DEADLINES: 

Articles; Letters to The Editor; Meeting Announcements; 

Event Flyers; due by the15 th of the preceding 

month. Example - items for the July issue will be 

due on June 15th.

BITS & PIECES 

 

In this day and age when we are having such 

great economic problems I sometimes wonder if 

the history of this country is being taught in our 

schools any more. 

I was just reading a book “Once an Eagle” by 

Anton Myrer. It spans World War I to the beginning 

of Vietnam. 

It speaks of all the pencil pushers and politicians 

than seem to always send us into trouble because 

of their greed and egos. The little man, PFC, 

were/are considered expendable by many of 

those at the top. Why do you think this happens 

so much, not only in war but in our everyday 

lives? 

Is it because a big percentage do not pay attention 

to whom they are voting for? Many don't 

even bother to vote. Could it be because many 

good people do not bother to run for office? you 

know those that are corrupt, even a little bit, will 

always look out for their best interests. 

This quote by the Greek tragic poet Aesehylus, 

written more than 2,000 years ago, really sums 

it up. 

“So in the Libyan fable it is told 

That once an eagle, stricken with a dart, 

Said, when he saw the fashion of the shaft, 

“With our own feathers, not by others’ hands, 

Are we now smitten.” 

If you do not understand what it means, it means 

we are doing our own selves in. I have heard 

many times a saying that came after WWII. 

Other countries will not take us by might, next 

time, but will work from the inside by buying us 

up…….. China and other countries own billions 

of our debts along with much of our land and 

businesses. Right now! 

This economic mess was created by ourselves. 

We did not pay attention and because we did not 

count the cost. 

Spending way above our means just because we 

can is not responsible. All one has to do is watch 

TV. Many are seduced by those commercials 

that say "buy one get one free" plus an additional 

surprise gift…….Baking pans, slice & dice 

items, Golden Oldies CD’s just 4 payments of 

$29.99 plus shipping. Call in with your credit 

card in the next 2, 5, 15 minutes and get something 

else “free.” 

Those that went crazy buying houses way over 

their budgets now owe double what the home is 

worth. Did they figure all the additional costs 

involved with owning a home? Insurance, taxes, 

maintenance, furnishings, landscaping, the list is 

endless. 

All these protesters are just costing the taxpayers 

more money by having to clean up their mess, 

pay the police over-time each night and all that 

paperwork when arrested. Those protesters 

would be far more effective if they bothered to 

Bits & Pieces continued on page 13 

 

YOU 

CAN 

DO 

IT!!! 

December 2011 North Country News Page 3 

Rio Linda Recreation & Park District's 

Autumn Window created by Sharon King 

For those of you that missed seeing it, here is the Rio Linda Parks & Recreation Community Center's 

Autumn Window created by the talent of Sharon King with assistance from Randy Aeschliman 

and Becky. 

Be sure to check out the new Christmas Window display when you go to the Santa Breakfast on 

December 3, 2011. 

Well last month I had plans for a mini green 

house in this column. I found that there are some 

things that I cannot do anymore. So… I had to 

change my design. 

I could not bend the ribs from one corner to the 

other corner. Just did not have the strength and 

that always makes me irritated. 

My modification: Cut six 

pieces 84” feet long. you can 

make the side walls shorter 

because the center is a foot 

or so higher. Place a 45 degree 

elbow on each and cut 

shorter pieces to make an 

arch or ridge like a house 

roof line. See drawing. you 

could make it square but then 

when it rains the water would 

not drain and it would sag in 

the middle. 

I also found that it is almost impossible to use 

the PVC cutter on thin wall PVC. I picked up 

thin wall by mistake but used it anyway. Do not 

know if my grip was just too weak or that because 

it is so flexible the cutter cannot sink into 

the material. I cut it with my hack-saw. 

With my modifications you will need more fit- 

tings but it is still doable. See my drawings. 

They are not to scale nor all that artistic but you 

can get the gist of it. The purple fittings are 45 

degree elbows and the pink are T’s. And, yes I 

did glue the pieces together. 

The middle support is a 1 ¼” x 9’ piece left over 

from another project. If your side walls are 

shorter than 84” then the center support needs to 

be shorter as well. Because I used the thin wall 

pvc I thought, when the weather starts to warm 

25’ size so you 

will have to use 

another strip for 

each end. 

Good luck……. 

Viv 

up, I might need some extra 

support. 

One other thing, I bought 

a roll of 6mil clear plastic 

and could only find 10’ x


Back Then!!! 

you think unemployment is bad 

now, at the end of World War I 

- 35% of Americans were out of 

work. They did not even have unemployment 

payments at that time. 

Reading some old books I ran across 

a practice that many families used, 

during the depression, because 

they had no money. It was called 

“pounding.” 

Neighbors got together and helped 

needy families by pounding them 

- giving them a pound of whatever 

they could spare, such as seeds, butter, 

sugar, meat, beans, cane syrup 

or vegetables and fruit. 

For many, Christmas mornings there 

were only candy sticks, raisins and 

an orange in the stockings. 

One story related that they were 

so poor that for her wedding present 

her Mother gave her two potatoes 

and a turnip. The newly weds 

moved in with the family making 

the total “eleven” in a one room 

cabin. 

We have all these different types 

and styles of vehicles these days 

but transportation was quite different 

during the Great Depression. 

Hopping a freight train was often 

the only way people could get from 

one part of the country to another, 

thus the term “Hoboes” was born. 

Men were desperate for any kind of 

work and hopped aboard the freight 

trains. Back then there were many 

more trains moving around the 

country. 

We should be using the rails more 

now in this energy hungry time. 

One train can haul as much as 

one hundred big rigs for the same 

amount of fuel. Add just one extra 

engine and the amount hauled does 

not double it triples!! …Viv 

Water, Water…. Everywhere Water…??? 

Did you know that we spend $21 

billion a year on bottled water 

and only $29 billion on maintaining 

and improving water infrastructure? 

Nation wide we lose around 7 

billion gallons of drinking water a 

day through leaking mains. 

Every year worldwide there are 

1.8 million children that die from 

lack of water or from drinking 

tainted water. 

Gift Suggestions for 

Gramps, Granny and 

Your Senior Friends 

1. Long handle pick-up tongs, 

several so they can be placed here 

& there, no hunting. (Trust me on 

this one.) 

2. Various sizes of Channel-Locks 

for opening bottles & such. Channel-locks 

are better than pliers. 

3. Buy a can of “Plasti Dip.” It is 

a multi-purpose rubber coating. I 

buy it at Home Depot. 

Now go and spend some time with 

your senior and dip the handles 

of their screwdrivers, pliers, nail 

clippers, eating utensils, favorite 

kitchen knives, etc. Bet you can 

find many other things to dip. Dipping 

makes it easier to get a grip 

on things. 

4. Make a card and list volunteer 

transportation trips to the grocery 

store or doctor’s appointments. 

5. A pedicure or manicure for 

either or both. 

6. Volunteer to come and wash 

kitchen cabinets or clean out and 

wash little used dishes stored in the 

hutch. Helping to eliminate unused 

items will make your Senior's 

life simpler. 

There are always warm fluffy 

socks, lap blankets for evenings of 

reading or TV, special lunches out 

and the interesting book to read. 

Then, you can always just ask what 

they would like. 

I never suggest buying doo-dads. 

Most Seniors have collected more 

than enough at this stage of life. 

I just suggest useful things, things 

to eat, things to rub on and things 

that makes life easier….. Viv 

Some other little known facts. We 

flush 5.7 billion gallons of clean 

drinking water down the toilet each 

DAy!!! That is about 18.5 gallons 

per day per person. This is pure 

drinking water. 

I think every new living unit, 

house, apartment, town houses, 

etc., should be fitted with a filtering 

system that would reroute bath 

and laundry water back through 

the system to be used to flush the 

toilets. Older homes should be 

analyzed to see if they could be 

retro fitted with the same system at 

I really hate to go shopping so I plan a route 

and cover several stores in one day. It makes 

a killer day but by doing it this way I shop 

from a list and usually can limit my trips to 

two per month. 

The Rio Linda Library 

Welcomes You 

The Library is located at: 902 Oak Lane, Rio Linda, CA 95673 

Hours: Tue 1:pm to 8:pm, Wed/Thur 11:am to 6:pm & Fri/Sat 1:pm to 5:pm 

For info about FRee children, teen and adult programs at the library 

please ask about them at the library or go to the online calendar at... 

http://cal.saclibrary.org/eventcalendar.asp 

For info about The Friends of the Rio Linda Library please go to… 

www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-the-Rio-Linda-Library/281704242959? 

and at… http://groups.myspace.com/FriendsoftheRioLindaLibrary 

Knit / Crochet Circle at the Rio Linda Library 

Every Tuesday beginning August 2 6pm-8pm (closing) 

For all ages and skill levels. This is not an instructional class; it’s 

for people to get together with their projects and chat while working. 

Please bring your own supplies. 

No need to register. Just come and enjoy! 

Cheers, Stephanie, Rio Linda Library 

a cost affordable to homeowners. 

By the year 2050 there will be 

2.4 billion more people and they 

probably will be thirsty. There are 

many nations and some cities in 

our own nation that already suffer 

from water shortages. Around 

forty percent of the world does 

not have good access to water or 

have to walk great distances to 

obtain water. 

Remember to be careful with 

every drop……Viv 

KITCHEN TIPS 

Last year I suggested a way to keep bananas 

from going bad until needed by putting 

them in the fridge. I buy one bunch that are 

mostly ripe, another bunch that are mostly 

green and then a bunch that are very green. I put the green bunches in 

the fridge until needed. The outsides will darken but the insides stay 

fresh. It has always worked for me. 

A couple of weeks ago, Mollie Carpenter let me know that she tried my 

method and says “It really works!” No more wasted bananas and no 

extra trips to the store. 

Another tip. If you like to make fewer trips to the store and like to have 

fresh milk, buy two cartons and freeze one. Remove a small amount 

from the one you freeze, to allow for expansion, then place in your 

freezer. The milk will keep for several weeks or more. Thaw when you 

need it….. Viv

PAPA’S 

PIZZERIA & GRILL 

420 Elkhorn Blvd. Rio Linda 

KEY SHOP 

825 M Street, Rio Linda 

Let's Talk Phone 

916-992-0518 


COLLEGE OAK 

TOWING 

916-648-2580 

4125 Winters St., Sacramento 

CUT IT UP 

HAIR SALON 


Archway Market 

Archway Check Cashing 


Elverta Feed Pet 

& Tack, Inc. 

7831 Rio Linda Blvd. Elverta 

Rio Food & Liquor 

Corner of R.L. Blvd. & Elkhorn 

Elverta Market 

& Deli 


Rio Linda Library 

902 Oak Lane, Rio Linda 

Rio Linda Liquor 

Villa Fat Chinese 

Cuisine 

DEAR READERS 

Lew’s Club 

6734 Rio Linda Blvd. Rio Linda 

Vanessa’s Place 

Hair Salon 


Oak Tree Diner 


Pleasant Grove Cafe 

Corner of Pleasant Grove Rd. & Howsley 

Rd., Pleasant Grove 

BG’s Family 

Restaurant 

6730 Rio Linda Blvd. Rio Linda 

Riego Market & Deli 

Corner of Pleasant Grove Rd. & Baseline 

Water rite Products 

Pl u m b i n g & irrigation suPPlies 

4807 Rio Linda Blvd. 916-925-3629 

Stop & Shop 

6007 Dry Creek Rd. Rio Linda 

River Valley Feed 

& Pet Supply 

6549 16th Street Rio Linda 

Food Source 

430 Elkhorn Blvd. Rio Linda 

The Pink Door 

Mary’s Hair Salon 

1020 Q St. Rio Linda 

Elkhorn 

Bait & Tackle 

6745 20th St. Rio Linda 

Elverta Sudzy Paws 


916-991-3811 

Coffee Break Cafe 

717 Del Paso Rd. Sacramento 

Corner of Main Ave. & Northgate Blvd. 

916-641-5808 

Su p p ly Ha r d wa r e 

7115 Watt Ave. North Highlands 


Please visit our web site www.NCNews328.com for the current and all the back issues of NCNews. 

428 “M” Street, Rio Linda 

440 Elkhorn Blvd. Suite 5 

916-991-1228 

Hair Gone Wild 


992-6100 

Vic Auto 

Paint & Supply 

7145 Watt Ave. Unit B North Highlands 

Phone: 916-339-9190 

Vic Cell: 916-600-6665 

www.vicautopaint.com 

7 Eleven 

Food Store 

Corner of Rio Linda & Elkhorn Blvd., 

Rio Linda 

Saveway 


Mama's Creamery 


Rio Linda Hardware 

& Building Supply 

6748 Front St. Rio Linda 

Rio Java 

440 Elkhorn Blvd. #1 Rio Linda 

Jimmy’s Donuts 

748 M Street, Rio Linda 798-4748 

Amy’s Cafe 

750 M Street, Rio Linda 992-0378 

Tummy’s Sub Shop 

741 M St. Rio Linda 991-5507 

Goodwill 

Industries 

8031 Watt Ave. Elverta 

Elverta Crossing Shopping Center 

Jenny Craig 

3661 North Freeway Blvd. #110 

Sacramento - Natomas area 

_ Support the Businesses that Support the North Country News _ 

___ Pick up your North Country News at any of these businesses _ _ _


Shirley “Nanny” 

(Scheidel) 

Cornelius 

Shirley “Nanny” was born November 

22, 1920 in the home 

of her grandparents in Elverta 

CA. She died peacefully on 

October 27, 2011. She was a 

resident of Elverta and then 

Sacramento for 90+ years. 

Shirley was a graduate of Grant 

High School, Sacramento 

City College and obtained her 

teaching credential from Chico 

State. 

In Memory 

Shirley eloped to Carson City in l941 with the love of her life Terry Cornelius. 

They had sixty-three years together with Terry passing on in 2004. 

Shirley was active in PTA, Job’s Daughters and the Grant Union Alumni 

Association. She enjoyed keeping busy making beautifully hand-crocheted 

blankets, collecting angels, teaching dance classes, camping with her children 

and grand children and hosting great parties for her family, neighbors 

and farming friends at their homes in Elverta and Sacramento. 

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Priscilla and Hobday, 

Grandchildren Hope Hobday Glynn and husband Ned, Terry Lee Killian 

Berman and husband Dale, and Andrea Killian. Her great-granddaughters 

Avery Glynn, Lila Berman, Madison Reuben, Georgia Sue Hughes and 

great-grandson Hunter Berman. 

She is survived by younger brother Jack Scheidel and preceded in death by 

husband Terry Cornelius and daughter Terry Sue Killian as well as sisters, 

Patty Hoyt and Helen McKenzie. 

Christmas 2011 

God may all your children 

know your light 

And save them from their plight 

Make their path way clear 

So that they know you are near 

God I see them running here and there 

Just as your word declares 

In the last days, perilous times will come. 

It saddens me dear lord 

And I don't understand 

Why they can't see you for themselves 

Have they all gone mad ? 

In this world you said there would be trials & tests 

But from where I'm standing, it has become a huge mess 

They forget to call on you when things are upsidedown 

They think they can handle it but I think that they're wrong 

Dear God my Christmas Stocking is lighter than it's ever been 

But that don't matter to me at all. you're my dearest friend 

And I wanted to let you know, no matter the trial or test 

I'll cling more closely to you Lord in the middle of my mess 

Christine Hardcastle 

There is an old song that I would like to recite, 

Reach out and touch the Lord as he passes by 

you will find He's not too busy to hear your heart's cry 

He's passing by this moment, your need to supply. 

Reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by 

Quotes & 

Words of 

Wisdom! 

No weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable 

as the will and moral courage of free men 

and women.” 

President Ronald Reagan 

Many are so insecure with “their” place they make 

it a life’s work to put us in “our place.” 

“But where is what I started for so long ago? And 

why is it yet unfound?” 

Walt Whitman 

“The finest forgiving is forgetting.” 

“A real friend never gets in your way unless you 

happen to be on your way down.” 

“Dedication and determination yield success and 

satisfaction.” 

“Some may try and tell us that this is the end of 

an era. But what they overlook is that in America 

every day is a new beginning and every sunset is 

merely the latest milestone on a voyage that never 

ends.” 

President Ronald Reagan

CalVaRy 

lutheRan ChuRCh 

5 th & L Streets, Rio Linda 

(916) 991-2135 Pastor: Todd Eckblad 

Sunday Adult Ed: 9:00 am 

Sunday Worship: 10:30 am 

Child Care Provided during Worship 

with Bible Stories and Crafts 

Teens Meet 2 nd & 4 th Monday’s 

4:30 pm – 6:00 pm 

Free Community Meals: Last Saturday 

Each Month: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm 

All Are Welcome! 

Elverta 

United Methodist Church 

“Open Hearts, Open Minds, 

Open Doors” 

916-991-1451 

7861 Elmont Avenue • Elverta 

Worship Service 9:00am. 

Pastor Judy Robbins 

New Life Center 

2037 Elkhorn Boulevard • Rio Linda 

Ph. 916-991-3001 

Sunday School 9:45am. 

Sunday Service l0:45am. 

Sunday Evening 6:00pm 

Wednesday 7:00pm. 

Pastor James A. Duncan 

The Church 

Home of 

Old Time Religion 

6550 Dry Creek Road • Rio Linda 

Ph. 916-991-6766 

Bob Royer, Pastor 

Sunday School 10:00am 

Sunday Evangelistic 6:00pm. 

Wed. Bible Study 7:30pm. 

Fri.. youth Service 7:30pm 

FULL GOSPEL 

LIGHTHOUSE FELLOWSHIP 

18th St. & Elkhorn Blvd.. • Rio Linda 

Phone 991-9774 Pastor Lyle Monday 

Su n d ay Wo r S h i p 

Morning 10:00 a.m. 

Evening 6:00 p.m. 

Children’s Classes 10 a.m. 

Rivers of Living Water Church 

Christian Fellowship Center 

“The Little Santa Ana Avenue Church” 

1350 Santa Ana Ave. Sacramento, CA. 95838 

Pastor Dave Chapman 

(916) 922-0763 Please call for scheduled 

Services & Event Information 

LIBERTY MINISTRIES 

CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP 

4840 Marysville Blvd.. • Rio Linda 

PASTOR SHANNON FANNIN 

Liberty Ministries extends an 

Invitation to come and join us 

for Celebration Worship each 

Sunday 9am or 11am 

Call for info on Child Care, Pre-School, 

youth Extreme & Food Closet. 922-6442 

FIRST SOUTHERN 

BAPTIST CHURCH 

6420 Rio Linda Blvd. • Rio Linda 

Corner of Elkhorn & Rio Linda Blvd. 

Pastor Steve Gleghorn 


Morning Worship 11:00am 

Evening Worship 6:00pm 

Wed. Prayer Service & youth 7:00pm 

trinity apostolic 

Faith Church 

7842 Elmont Avenue 

Elverta, CA 95626 

991-7895 

Pastor Steve Mixer 

Sunday School 9:30 am 

Worship Service 11:00 am 

Evening Evangelistic Service 6:00 p.m. 

Wednesday Bible Study: 7:30 p.m. 

RIO LINDA Seventh Day 

Adventist Church 

7535 - 10th St. & U • Rio Linda 

991-4091 

9:15am Saturday 

Sabbath School for Adults & Children 

11:00am Worship Service 

6:30pm Wednesday • Prayer Meeting 

6:30pm Friday • Vespers 

ELVERTA FIRST BAPTIST 

CHURCH (SBC) 

112 West Delano Street • Elverta 

Pastors Ted Hooker & Randall Gillespie 

Church Ph:. 991-5545 

Sunday 

Adult Bible Study: 9:45am 

Teen Bible Study: 9:30am 

Worship with Band : 11:00am 

KidSpace Children’s Service: 11:00am 

Gospel Service:6:00pm 

Wed.: Worship & Bible Study 7:00pm 

Friday: TeenLIVE! youth 7:00pm 

LifePointe 

Church of the Nazarene 

A Place of New Beginnings 

Corner Q St. & Rio Linda Blvd. R. L. 

Phone 991-4624 

Pastor Dennis Druckhammer 


Worship 10:30am & 6:00pm 

Wed. Family Night 7:00pm 

Rio Linda Community 

United Methodist Church 

6th & M Streets • Rio Linda 

991-1638 

Pastor Judy Robbins 


Worship Service 11:00am 

Rio Linda 

Pentecostal Church of God 

“Home of Christian Family Worship” 

736 “O” Street • Rio Linda 

(916) 606-6928 

Pastor Rick Willock 

• Sunday Services • 

10am -Christian Education 

11:00am - Morning Worship 

6:00pm - Evening Worship 

FAMILY 

GOSPEL CENTER 

Rio Linda Four Square Church 

1281 Q Street • Rio Linda • 348-3637 

Pastor John Frank 

Church and Sunday School 10:00am 

Wed. Bible Study 7:00pm 


ATTEND YOUR PLACE OF WORSHIP AND FEED YOUR SOUL 

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS 

Sunday of each week 6:00pm. 

Tuesday of each week 7:00pm 

Wednesday of each week 7:30pm. 

Friday of each week 7:00pm. 

Calvary Lutheran Church 

Parish Hall 

5th & L Street • Rio Linda. 

916-992-1409 

or Call 24/7 hotline AA 454-1100 

RIO LINDA ELVERTA 

RECREATION & PARKS 

DISTRICT BOARD 

3rd Wednesday of each month 

6:30p.m. Community Center 

810 Oak Lane • Rio Linda 

991-5929 

DRY CREEK PARKWAY 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE 

1st Wednesday of each month. 

Please call for location and time 

Sac. Co. Parks - Liz Bellas 

916-875-5925 

RLE VISIONS TASK FORCE 

2nd Monday each month 

7:00 - 8:00 p.m. 

Depot • 6730 Front St. 

Rio Linda 

TWIN RIVERS SCHOOL 


1st & 3rd Tuesday each month 

916-566-1786 

5107 Dudley Blvd. Building 250 

Bay “B” 

McClellan • McClellan Park 

www.twinriversusd.org 

FRIENDS OF 

THE RIO LINDA 

PUBLIC LIBRARY 

1st Wednesday - Quarterly 

6:30-8:00 p.m. 

Next meeting Dec. 7 h 

902 Oak Lane (inside the library) 

Phone: 566-2138 

NORTH METRO 

CHURCH OF CHRIST 

4191 Norwood Ave. Sac. 95838 

Phone (916) 923-1147 

Jason Darden, Minister 

Su n d ay 

Bible Classes 10:00am 

Worship 11:00am 

Worship 6:00pm 

Wednesday • Bible Classes • 7:00pm 

ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH 

3644 Bolivar Ave. 

North Highlands, CA. 

(LCMS) Tel:332-4001 

http://www.ZionLutheranNH.org 

Su n d ay Sc h e d u l e 

8:00 AM Traditional Worship 

9:30 AM Kingdom Quest for kids 

9:30 AM Adult & Teen Bible Study 

10:45 AM Praise Service with Band 

Kid’s Church (during 10:45 service) 

CALVARY 

BAPTIST CHURCH 

6608 16th St. • Rio Linda 

Ph. 991-5870 

Pastor William Hilton 


Morning worship 11:00am 

Evening Worship 6:00pm 

Wednesday Bible Study 7:00pm 

RIO LINDA 

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 

(American Baptist) 

10th & O Streets • Rio Linda 

Pastor Tom Daniels - 991-2918 


Sunday Worship 11:00am 

Wednesday Bible Study 5:30pm 

St. Clare 

Catholic Church 

1950 Junction Blvd. • Roseville, CA 

Rev. Liam MacCarthy, Pastor 

Rev. Paul Ricks, Parochial Vicar 

(916) 772-4717 

Saturday 5:00 p.m. 

Sunday 9 a.m. • 11 a.m. • 5 p.m. 

Community Meeting Notices 

Please call 916-991-5056 to list meetings 

TRI COMMUNITIES 

LUNCH BUNCH 

1st Thursday each month 

11:30am 

Pancake Palace Watt Ave. 

North Highlands 

RIO LINDA/ELVERTA 

COMMUNITY 

WATER DISTRICT BOARD 

3rd Monday of each month 

6:30p.m. Depot/Visitors Center 

6730 Front Street • Rio Linda 

991-1000 

COMMUNITY WATCH 

3rd Thursday of each month. 

5:30pm to 6:30pm 

Community Center 

810 Oak Lane • Rio Linda. 


COMMUNITY PLANNING 

COMMISSION (CPC) 

4th Wednesday of each month 

7:00 p.m. Depot/Visitors Center 


RIO LINDA GRANGE # 403 

1315 G Street Rio Linda 

1st Monday each month at 7 p.m. 

Mary Anne 991-3933 


CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 

Monthly 

5:30pm. Depot/Visitors Center 


916-991-9344 

SACRAMENTO 

METROPOLITAN 

FIRE DISTRICT 

1st & 3rd. Wed. of each month. 

6:00pm. - 916-566-4000 

2101 Hurley Way • Sacramento 

ELVERTA SCHOOL 


2nd Monday of each month. 

5:30pm • 916-991-2244 

7900 Eloise Ave. • Elverta 

OVERCOMERS OUTREACH 

Christian based 12 Step 

Every Thursday at 7:00p.m. 

Capitol Free Will Baptist 

in the Fellowship Hall 

6201 Watt Ave. North Highlands 

916-432-0980


Highlands High Class of '61 

50th Year Reunion Highlands 

High Class of 

1961 celebrated 

their 50th 

year reunion 

on September 

24, 2011 at 

the Carmichael 

Elks 

Lodge No. 

2103. Eule 

Rae Cecchettini 

supplied 

many of the 

pictures on 

these pages.

For more information about classmates 

contact committee members Mary 

Cannedy Missildine at 916-332-4087, 

Eula Rae Cecchettini at email address: 

raecec@astound.net, Larry Johnson at 

916-965-4111 or Arnold O’Shields at 

916-622-6840. 

YUMMY YUMS!!! 

Hearty Beef Stew 

Makes 6 quarts and serves several depending on how hungry they are! 

Just add a pan of biscuits and some dessert. I usually freeze the extra 

stew in quart containers. 

Use a large pot - 6 - 8 qts at least, so you have room to give it a good stir 

every now and then. 

1 lb Lean Round roast - cut into ½” cubes, 

brown in oil, Crisco or whatever you like, with 

seasoned salt - teaspoon or so. 

After browning beef add to pot 4 cups of broth or 

water and simmer at least 2 hours. 

Saute in oil, butter, Pam or whatever you like. 

2 good size onions - diced 

6-8 stalks of celery - diced 

1 full head of garlic - finely chopped. 

After tender add to pot. 

Then add these items to pot. 

5-6 medium potatoes - ½” cubes 

2 - 13oz cans of sliced carrots or use fresh and slice in ¼” slices. 

1 - 13oz can tomato sauce 

2 - 13oz cans diced tomatoes with juice 

Sometimes I add 1 - 13oz can - sliced mushrooms. 

Good bit of Mrs. Dash (salt free), bit of pepper and simmer at least 2 hours. you 

may need to add more broth or water to increase the liquid. 

If you wish the finished broth to be thicker just spoon out a few of the cooked 

potatoes, mash well and stir back. This will thicken the broth. 

Instant potato flakes will do the same. 

you can always add other veggies as you like, this is just the way I make my beef 

stew. I rarely measure anything, it is usually a bit of this, a dash or a pinch of that. 

If I do measure I weigh the items such as 8 oz of sugar or 20 oz of flour. When 

a recipe calls for two eggs I usually add another. This is the way my Grandma 

Spicer and my Grandma Susie cooked so that is the way I learned. In all the years 

that I have been cooking, and that is quite a few, no one has ever complained...Viv 


Cell: 916-471-9678 - Fax: 916-991-9916 

Jeff Good 

Owner 

Commercial & Residential Maintenance 

Irrigation System Repairs/Installation 

Sod Installation 

Lawn Treatment Program 

One-time Cleanups 

Contractors License #922990 

Qualified Applicators Certificate #118171 

“Care of God’s creation for your enjoyment” 

Watson Storage 

(916-992-6022) 

Storage Units, Rv’s & Boats 

8628 Pleasant Grove Rd. 

Open 8:30 am - 5:00 p.m. 

Closed Sundays & Mondays 

P.O. Box 449 

Rio Linda, CA 95673 

5 X 10 - $45.00 

5 X 14 - $55.00 - 1 Room 

10 X 10 - $65.00 - 2 Rooms 

10 X 12 - $75.00 - 3 Rooms 

10 X 14 - $85.00 - 4 Rooms 

12 X 14 - $95.00 - 5 Rooms 

14 X 24 - $140.00 - 6 Rooms+ 

New & Fashionable Cuts and Perms 

Hair Color • Weaves • Ear Piercing 

Facial Waxing • Tanning 

916-991-2441


Social and Fraternal 

Organizations 

RIO LINDA GRANGE #85 

1315 G Street, Rio Linda 

Meetings 

First Wednesdays - 7:00pm 

916-335-1613 

ELKHORN MOOSE LODGE #260 

& 

WOMEN OF THE MOOSE LODGE 

6003 Rio Linda Blvd, Rio Linda 

Meetings 

First & third Tuesdays - 7:30 pm 

916-992-1273 

RIO LINDA/ELVERTA LIONS CLUB 

Rio Linda/Elverta Community Center 


Meetings 

Second, third & fourth Thursdays 

Dinner 6:00pm / Meeting 7:00 pm 

916-991-6223 

AMERICAN LEGION POST #521 

6700 8th Street, Rio Linda 

Meetings 

Second Tuesdays - 7:30pm 

916-991-9921 

RIO LINDA MASONIC LODGE 

Front & M Street, Rio Linda 

Meetings 

Third Mondays 

Dinner 6:00pm - Meeting 7:30pm 

916-992-1891 or 916-991-7715 

GENERAL JOHN J. PERSHING 

VFW POST 4647 

3300 U Street, North Highlands 

Meetings 

First & third Thursdays-7:00pm 

Hall Rental 

916-332-5960 

Who: Sacramento County UC Cooperative Extension 

What: Now accepting applications for the Master Food Preserver Volunteer training course. 

This eight-week, food safety and preservation course offers lectures, demonstrations, 

and hands-on experience in canning high- and low-acid foods, dehydration, freezing, 

pickling, and making various types of jams and jellies. 

When: March 5 through May 14, 2011. Saturdays, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

Where: Sacramento County Cooperative Extension is located at 4145 Branch Center Road, 

Sacramento, CA 95827-3823, and is handicap accessible. 

Why: To train Sacramento County residents to become Master Food Preserver volunteers. 

How: Request an application by calling (916) 875-6913. The deadline to submit an 

application is January 18, 2012. 

Other: The course fee is $75 (subject to change without notice). Course participants must pass a 

written exam to become a UC Cooperative Extension Master Food Preserver Volunteer and must 

agree to donate 40 hours of volunteer time to the Sacramento County community during their first 

year as a Master Food Preserver Volunteer. For more information call (916) 875-6913.


New Director Appointed to Rio Linda Elverta Community Water District 

On November 21, 2011, at the regular meeting of the 

RLECWD board, the vacant board position was filled. By a 

unanimous vote, the RLECWD Board of directors appointed 

Jerry Trautman, Jr. to fill the vacated seat of Martin Smith. 

Jerry will hold this office until the elections of 2012. 

Trautman’s main strength is his financial background. He 

is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) and most of his 

career was as a chief financial officer for various agencies 

and businesses such as San Jose Water Works, Touche Ross 

& Co., Jack La Lane’s European Health Spas as CEO, and 

Board of Directors -Tahoe Meadows Home Owners Assoc. 

(President 2004-2008) 

Helen Bacharowski 

at right and below served 

our country in WWII with 

the Coast Guard. She still 

serves by helping pack 

care packages for our 

troops. 

Drop in and visit with the 

Elder 

Craftsman 

any Wednesday between 

10:00am & 2:00pm 

at the Depot 

in Rio Linda. 

Everyone is Welcome 

991-2810 

Lew's Club keeps on 

caring for our troops 

Iris Channell 

of Lew's Club 

and her "group" 

continue to send 

care packages 

to our troops 

overseas. 

Honorary Mayor 

Michelle Morris 

(below) donated 

most of the items. 

Lew's Club would 

like to thank her 

for her generosity 

and help. 

Trautman has a BA in Economics from Stanford University, 

attended University of Santa Clara and holds the title of Certified 

Public Accountant since 1962. He is on inactive status 

since retiring. 

Jerry has served on many Boards and held Offices from 1975 

through 2008. 

Adding Jerry Trautman to the RLECWD will be very helpful 

as the district continues to make improvements in all areas of 

service to the ratepayers. Welcome aboard….. Viv 

Visit our website: www.latenightriders.org 

Email: District5latenightriders@yahoo.com 

Central Park Horse Arena in Rio Linda 

Sat. Dec. 3 

Christmas Jingle Bells Show 

Saturday DAY Show: Sign-up at 8:00 a.m. - Ride at 9:15 a.m. 

Show Type 2 - Events will be: 

Fig. 8 Stake; Keyhole; Poles II; Quadrangle; 

Speed Barrels; Big T; Show Manager's Choice 

For more information or to request set-ups 

Please call Jody Abel 916-208-7316 

LET’S 

DIG IN !!! 

_ _ _ _ _ 

Well, it is finally looking like winter. 

A bit of rain, a bit of wind and 

snow in the mountains. Leaves are 

falling everywhere. Be sure to use 

them as mulch. Do not ever throw 

them away. 

I bought Mother a new broom this 

year and she sweeps and hauls 

the leaves almost every day now. 

Sometimes Dad helps load them in 

the wheelbarrow for her. They are 

both 89 now so it is good for them 

to be able to get out now and then. 

_ _ _ _ _ 

Good news! Home Depot will 

have the Fuyu Persimmon trees 

this year. Jeff, the store buyer, said 

that he will only be able to obtain 

20 trees so if you want one or two 

it would be wise to go put your order 

in, pay for them and hang on to 

your receipt. The trees, bare root, 

will arrive the first of January! I 

have my name in for three. 

My dermatologist said that eating 

persimmons is good for your skin. 

Orange fruits and veggies, butternut 

squash, carrots, yams, persimmons, 

pomegranates, oranges etc., 

are all good sources of vitamin A. 

_ _ _ _ _ 

With the leaves falling I discovered 

that my pomegranates produced 

more than I first thought. 

Guess I will have to get out and 

pick them before they all split. 

When it rains the tree/shrub sucks 

up water and then the fruit splits 

because it just cannot expand anymore. 

Pomegranate juice is really good 

for you. Add about two ounces to 

seven up, sparkling apple cider or 

ginger ale and it is sooooooo good! 

Pomegranate juice makes beautiful 

ruby red jelly as well. Fancy, small 

jars of jelly make nice gifts. 

Seed catalogues are on the way!!! 

….. Viv

Page 12 North Country News December 2011 

WILL WE NEVER LEARN??? 

As we near December 7th I wonder 

if those of you below 50 years 

of age really understand the significance 

of the date. It is the day that, 

as a great country as we were at that 

time, we were taken by surprise. 

It has been seventy years since the 

bombing of Pearl Harbor. We lost 

thousands of men and many ships. 

Our Pacific fleet was almost totally 

lost. As a nation we miscalculated 

the danger of not being prepared, 

even though many thought it could 

never happen. And once again our 

military has been cut below our 

ability to defend our country. 

We were even attacked on our mainland. 

A few places along California’s 

coast and Oregon were shelled 

by Japan‘s submarines. Not until 

9/11 was the US attacked again on 

our own soil. 

Back then we had to take drastic action 

to stop the war in the Pacific. 

I hope and pray those we place in 

power know their history so that we 

do not have to repeat the past. 

We are dangerously unprepared for 

another all out battle. Many of the 

military bases have been closed. 

Fewer and fewer recruits are enlisting. 

The military budgets have 

been cut every year. Will we never 

learn. “Speak softly but carry a big 

stick.” 

On August 2, 1939, Albert Einstein 

warned us about the secret work, 

with uranium, going on in Nazi 

Germany. President Roosevelt 

started the process to create the first 

Atomic Bomb. 

The first expenditure was six thousand 

dollars to buy graphite. Substantial 

funds were not authorized 

by Roosevelt until two years later 

on December 6, l941. The next day 

came Pearl Harbor, and Roosevelt 

vowed vengeance! 

Not many knew about this bomb. 

The six million dollars needed to 

make the bomb was hidden in the 

budget, where congress never even 

found it. The base where the bombs 

were assembled (except for the 

atomic warheads) was called Wendover. 

The location was top secret 

and was somewhere near Salt Lake 

City, Utah and Elko, Nevada. 

It was where the pilots trained for 

their bombing runs. Security was so 

strict a sign was mounted at the exit 

gate with this warning: 

What you hear Here 

What you see Here 

When you leave Here 

Let it stay Here! 

Anyone that goofed was shipped to 

Alaska for the duration. 

The bomb’s existence was so secret 

that when Roosevelt died, April 12, 

1945, even the new President Truman 

knew nothing about it. On 

Truman’s first day of office he was 

informed that we, the USA, was perfecting 

an explosive great enough 

to destroy the whole world. How’s 

that for a starter? 

Scientist’s had calculated that the 

blast from the weapon to be dropped 

on Japan would be the equivalent to 

that from eight to fifteen thousand 

tons of TNT. It would take nearly 

two thousand B-29’s, carrying full 

payloads of conventional highexplosive 

bombs to match just one 

atomic bomb. 

President Roosevelt started it and 

President Truman made the decision 

to use it. History states that 

most felt it would shorten or end 

the War with Japan. The bomb was 

dropped August 6, 1945 and Japan 

surrendered, unconditionally on 

August 14, 1945. 

Just last August was the 66th anniversary 

of the dropping of the first 

Atomic Bomb. The fateful day was 

August 6, 1945. 

Don’t anyone think I am a pacifist. 

When attacked, I will fight. It is 

just that I think we have had enough 

wars that were political, that we did 

not set out to win. We just send our 

young to do a job with their hands 

tied. 

If you are going to war then fight all 

out, win and come home. I always 

said that if women were the generals 

most wars would be over in a 

few days. Women have too many 

other things to take care of and cannot 

dally over long on havoc caused 

by something silly like having too 

much greed and ego. 

Think about it and let our leaders 

know. Would we rather talk from a 

strong position than send our young 

men and women to fight another 

war that old men created? 

If our leaders do not work to correct 

the terrible economic mess that 

faces our nation we will once again 

face the same problems that those 

of the thirties faced, just before the 

Great War, World War II. 

The country is so discouraged by 

the continuing economic mess that 

many people have given up thinking 

they will ever be able to get past 

this dilemma.......Viv 

Sacramento County 

UC Cooperative Extension Services 

Who: The Sacramento County UC Cooperative Extension 

Master Food Preservers 

What: Food Preservation Public Demonstration: All Dried 

Up! Basic introduction to safe dehydration techniques 

When: Saturday, December 10, 2011, 10:00 a.m. – Noon 

Where: Sacramento Cooperative Extension Office 

4145 Branch Center Road, Sacramento, CA 95827 

How: FREE…..No pre-registration required. 

For additional information, please call (916) 875-6913. 

**Cooperative Extension Office facilities are handicap accessible. 

RLECWD Legal Counsel 

wins another round 

Once again Ravi Mehta, who has been roundly criticized by some Water 

Board Directors and members of the public, has won another victory for 

the ratepayers and the Water District. Mehta has saved the District many 

thousands of dollars defending against these frivolous suits by disgruntled 

former employees. 

Liz Myers, the district's former bookkeeper, who was terminated for allegedly 

using the district's credit card for personal charges (and other acts 

of misconduct, including 139 counts of alleged payroll fraud) had filed a 

number of lawsuits against the district. After Myers was terminated, she 

filed for Unemployment benefits, which were denied. The EDD held that 

she was terminated for cause (misuse of District credit card). Myers then 

appealed the denial of unemployment benefits. After a lengthy process, 

including filing numerous briefs, submittal of volumes of evidence, an appeal 

hearing was held in early November. 

At the hearing, Liz Myers admitted that she used district's credit card from 

2006 through 2010 for various personal charges, including plane tickets 

for her daughter to travel to South Africa, plane tickets to Hawaii (where 

she owns a home), her daughter's tuition payment to the University of 

Hawaii, charges at a Walmart in Hawaii, and many others. Myers claimed 

that she had the right to use the credit card because cards were issued 

to each district employee, and that she had permission from the General 

Manager to use the credit card for personal purposes. 

At the unemployment appeal hearing the Judge ruled that the District's 

Counsel, Ravi Mehta had proved that Liz Myer's testimony was not credible. 

Ravi Mehta, proved that not only did Myers not have permission to 

use the credit card, but the district could not have given permission to use 

public funds for personal purposes. 

This is the first of many defeats for Liz Myers. Through the effective and 

capable lawyering by our district's legal counsel, the district's ratepayers 

can rest assured that its funds will be protected, and Liz Myers will lose 

all of her meritless cases. A special thanks to Ravi for his continued great 

work on behalf of the district. 

This is not the first case Mehta has won for the district. The first part of 

this year a decision was handed down on the Dillion case and the district 

was awarded $101,000 plus. 

I feel confident that with Mehta fighting our legal battles the district will 

continue to prevail in all the various suits that have been brought....Viv

Roseville DeMolay 

Toys for Tots Drive 

Roseville DeMolay is collecting donations 

for Toys for Tots. Last year we collected 51 

toys to donate to needy children and this 

year we hope to exceed that. We are collecting 

new, unwrapped toys from now until 

December 16th. This is part of Roseville 

DeMolay’s Almoner’s project which is led 

by Evan Ross. 

DeMolay is an organization for young men between the ages of twelve 

and twenty-one. DeMolay assists youth in growing into responsible adults 

while providing a safe place to have fun, companionship, be accepted by 

peers, and developing social skills. If you would like more information call 

Dylan Courtwright, JC at 916-740-3318 or Chapter Advisor Dave Killmer 

at 916-765-0817. 

vote and study each and every candidates 

record, how they have conducted 

themselves and not listen to 

so much campaign hype. Any candidate 

or person already in office 

that is not thrifty, watches out for 

those that elected them, does not 

have good morals and most of all 

fails to show fiscal responsibility 

should be watched very carefully 

and voted out or not put in office in 

the first place. 

Remember it is your money that is 

being spent. Government first has 

to take it from your pocket, by any 

means the politicians can devise, 

fees, service charges, assessments, 

taxes, rate increases, before they 

can spend it. The list is endless and 

will get worse if we do not make 

our selves heard at the ballot box!!! 

 

Again it is cold and wet and I see 

critters without proper shelter. One 

street east of me, little goats just 

standing in the rain, no shelter at all. 

It really ticks me off when I see this 

all around our community. 

Why do you people even have 

animals when you do not seem to 

know how to take care of them? 

Animals do not handle the cold and 

wet weather any better than you do. 

Give them a warm place, out of the 

rain, and see how fast they will use 

it. Don’t you know that standing in 

mud and whatever, day and night, 

will rot their feet? Why don’t you 

try it for a day? 

We should bring back the “stocks” 

for those people who mistreat animals. 

Lock their heads and hands, 

about three feet off the ground for a 

day or so, out in the weather. Then 

people could pass by throwing ma- 

BITS & PIECES 

 

Continued from page 3 

nure in their faces. Do you think 

they might get the drift??? 

 

Well it is time to go….There are so 

many things to think about that I 

tend to get carried away. No matter 

what….this is still the best country 

to live in, we just have to stand to 

be counted. When in America be 

American!!! 

Some people may doubt what I say 

or write but they will always believe 

what I do. So I will keep the 

faith, do my best and let God do the 

rest….. Viv 

Well here it is, November 29th and 

we are working diligently toward 

our goal. So far around 1,657 signatures 

have been collected and we 

have 41 days left to collect the other 

377. A total of 2,034 valid signatures 

are required. 

We have verified all signatures and 

so far all are valid. The collectors 

do not allow anyone to sign the petitions 

that are not a registered voted 

living within the Rio Linda Elverta 

Community Water District. 

What is surprising are the comments 

related to us from the signers. 

Many are concerned about the rate 

increase of March 7, 2011. They 

are not happy with the full amount 

being dumped into the operating 

budget instead of being earmarked 

for the Capital Improvements Budget. 

Those improvements are so 

badly needed because of the old 

infrastructure. Much of the infrastructure 

dates back to 1948 and a 

big part of the rest of the district’s 


Important 

Girl Scout 

News 

Join Now: 

your local Girl Scout council, Girl Scouts Heart of Central California 

(GSHCC), has started its new membership year. Please call 916-452-9181 

and ask for the membership department if your daughter would like to be 

a Girl Scout. 

Volunteers Needed: 

Girl Scouts is a volunteer-led organization that provides training and support 

to its volunteers and members. By volunteering to start a troop you 

will be guided by the council to help girls achieve their goals and become 

leaders. This fulfilling commitment will open your eyes to the impact you 

can have on a girl's life. Girls in your area are waiting for troops to form so 

that they can become a Girl Scout. If you would like to volunteer to be a 

troop leader, call 916-452-9181 and ask for the membership department. 

100th Anniversary: 

March 12, 2012 marks our 100th Anniversary. We'll be kicking off the 

celebration in January followed by our big 100th event on April 28, 2012 

at Cal Expo. you can register for that event now by visiting the 100th Anniversary 

section of the GSHCC website at www.girlscoutshcc.org. 

New Girl Scout Badges: 

Girl Scouts of the USA is rolling out an all-new collection of badges aimed 

at giving girls the skills they need to succeed. Girls can still earn popular 

long-time badges such as Cook, Naturalist, and Athlete − topics as relevant 

today as they were in 1912 − but now they also have badges such as 

Product Designer, Digital Movie Maker, Customer Loyalty, and even the 

Science of Happiness. Plus, new "Make your Own" badges at every level 

give girls the opportunity to explore any interest they choose. 

For more information, visit www.girlscoutshcc.org or call 916-452-9181. 

About Girl Scouts - Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts is still the premier leadership 

development organization for girls. We build girls of courage, confidence 

and character who make the world a better place. The local council, 

Girl Scouts Heart of Central California, is headquartered in Sacramento 

and serves nearly 29,000 girls in 18 counties* in Central California. For 

more information, visit www.girlscoutshcc.org. 

* Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Mariposa, Merced, 

Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Stanislaus, Sutter, 

Tuolumne, yolo, and yuba. 

Recall Up-Date!!! 

infrastructure dates from the 1960’s 

and 70’s. 

Some wanted to know, if the State 

does not require the increase why it 

was not given back to the ratepayer? 

Others asked, has any amount been 

put away for deferred maintenance? 

What about our investment account 

and the rainy day fund? 

Others did not like the childish and 

rude behavior exhibited by some 

on the Board and were appalled at 

the gutter language spoken at board 

meetings. 

Very few have refused to sign the 

recall petitions, most of them were 

pro-union and felt that no matter, 

even with these hard economic 

times, people were entitled to all 

the benefits they could get. Seems 

many do not know that all those 

benefits come from the ratepayers 

pockets. When asked if they liked 

the rate increase, even those not 

signing were not in favor of the rate 

increase. 

What is apparent is that many would 

like to make changes, they are tired 

of not going forward. Most of what 

has been accomplished, the State 

Loan, a new well #15 and new piping 

was started in 2009 & 2010. 

There is much more to do. Another 

well, possibly a storage tank, bank 

audit 2005-2010 - to find out where 

the money went, rebuild our investment 

fund, put money aside for future 

maintenance, start rebuilding 

our rainy-day fund and get a handle 

on our operations expenses. 

When the petition is presented to 

you for signing this is your chance 

to show your support, make a stand 

for what is best for the district and 

not just what Francis Caron promised 

a few employees. The ratepayers 

cannot afford to continue to foot 

the bill for this type of foolishness. 

…..Viv


Center Preschool is taking enrollment 

Center Preschool looks like your 

typical preschool. Bright colors 

and alphabets are splashed on every 

surface. Terrariums and aquariums 

teem with creepy-crawlies to study. 

Happy children sing nursery rhymes 

and make finger-paint masterpieces. 

But if you spend a little time in 

the classroom, you start to realize 

that this preschool 

has 

something… 

More. 

Adult family 

members, 

anyone from 

Mom or Dad 

to Auntie or 

Grandpa, are 

teaching lessonsalongside 

the teachers 

(Pat Stayton and Mary Franklin, 

who between them have over 50 

years’ experience in the field). The 

children are practicing their letters, 

not with paper and pencil but with 

shaving cream smeared on the table. 

Center Preschool is also an inclusion 

school; this means that some 

of the students need some extra 

help. Some have very mild issues 

with speech; others are physically 

dependent on other people. But all 

of the students get the same experience; 

they learn the same lessons 

alongside each other. I can’t think 

of a better way to teach my children 

compassion and acceptance of all 

people, regardless of differences! 

I have three sons myself, and my 

second son is happily following in 

his big brother’s footsteps at Center 

Preschool. The choice was clear for 

me; my oldest son got a wonderful 

Without Bees we would have very 

few things to eat? 

Bees are needed to pollinate about 

70% of all crops grown world 

wide? 

There are between 25,000 and 

50,000 bees per hive. There are 

around three million bee colonies 

world wide? 

It takes 50 to 100 blooms to produce 

1 drop of honey? It takes 

start at Center, reading before his 

fourth birthday and at 2nd grade, 

still at the top of his class, thirsty 

for more knowledge. 

Everything that makes Center Preschool 

different is what also makes 

it a much better choice. Parent participation 

means that I am able to 

experience 

p r e s c h o o l 

with my children, 

as well 

as offsetting 

the cost and 

making it one 

of the most 

affordable 

Preschools 

in the area. I 

get to watch 

them learn, 

and I have a 

hand in teaching them myself. The 

parenting classes we attend once a 

month have been a huge help, too. 

I’ve learned so much about how 

I can raise happy, respectful and 

confident children. 

I wish I could list all of the fun 

things they do at Center Preschool 

(the field trips! the family nights!), 

but I think the fact that I’m already 

sending my second son, and next 

year will send my third, speaks for 

itself. Don’t take my word for it; 

come see for yourself what makes 

us stand out! 

Center Preschool in Antelope is always 

enrolling. For more information, 

or to set up a classroom visit, 

please call (916) 338-6446 or check 

us out on the web at facebook.com/ 

centerpreschool. 

Did 

You 

Know 

??? 

around 100,000 bees to make one 

pound of honey. That is about four 

million blooms!!! 

Plant clover along boarders, in 

your garden and add flowers where 

ever you can. Every year bees 

have it tougher because of all the 

pesticides floating around so practice 

using good insects (ladybugs 

- Praying-mantis & others) to get 

the bad insects. Now is the time 

to plan new plantings of blooming 

shrubs, trees and plants. 

Pleasant Grove Student Council 

By Hannah Larson & Skye White, 8th grade students 

This year, our 2011 elected officers for Student Council include 

President Alisha Smith, Vice President Skye White, Treasurer Hannah 

Larson and Secretary Maddy Burnsed. Our first meeting was held on 

October 5th, 2011 at Pleasant Grove School. October was Breast Cancer 

awareness month, so we decided to hang up breast cancer ribbons 

in EVERy classroom showing our pride and support. Student Council 

made a ‘Breast Cancer Awareness Week,’ with different activities. Each 

class was challenged to wear some kind of pink every day, and if 85% of 

students wore pink, they received a pink ribbon. At the end of the week, 

every student was treated to a bowl of strawberry ice cream! The following 

week, was ‘Hoops for Hope’ Day. Students shot basketballs to raise 

money. To participate in this activity, each student had to bring in at least 

one dollar, and at the end of the day, all of the money was donated to our 

wonderful chef, Ms. Shawn Withrow who then used the money for her 

Susan G. Koman 60 mile ‘Walk for the Cure,’ to support the study of 

Breast Cancer and to help find the cure. All together, we raised a total of 

$231!!! 

When our Student Council realized how many bottles and cans 

we were throwing away, we decided to start a recycling campaign for 

our school. Students are recycling plastic bottles and cans from their 

lunches. Not knowing how students would respond we made one poster 

to show our progress in collecting the recyclables. For every 20 cans recycled 

we fill up a line on our Can poster. Our student’s have responded 

and we are currently filling our second can which means we have collected 

about 200 recyclable containers! The money raised will go to the 

student council account to be used on activities for PG students. 

This year, Student Council will be greatly involved in our annual 

Harvest Dinner on December 3rd. We will be running the kid’s room as 

well as selling bottled waters and sodas. The kid’s room is a FUN place 

for kids to play. Every booth has parent supervision as well as a student 

running it. Each booth has its own price ranging from 1-5 tickets. Some 

games featured include Just Dance 2 for Wii and other carnival type 

games. 

Student Council is also running our Second Annual Free Shopping 

Night. This is a great experience for our Student Council to give 

back to the community. We started collecting clothes months prior. The 

clothing drive is held at Pleasant Grove School December 6th, 2011 from 

3-7p.m. Our goal is to take one person’s trash and make it into someone 

else’s Treasure! Please come to our free shopping night and shop! Whatever 

is not taken at the end of the night is donated to a local Goodwill or 

a homeless shelter. 

By Jacob Moos, 8th grade student 

“It doesn’t matter if you win or lose I will always be proud of you,” 

is the message that teams year after year have heard from their coach Mr. 

Moore. After playing on Mr. Moore’s team I decided to figure out why 

his coaching strategies work so well. Mr. Moore has been coaching boys 

A-Team football, basketball, and softball, along with co-ed softball, and 

even A-Team girls’ softball for 17 years. His favorite thing about coaching 

is watching his athletes improve in skills and playing together as a team. 

He is looking forward to working with A-Team boys for basketball and 

working with the two high school students that are going to come and help 

coach. Mr. Moore is also a teacher. In his 16 years at Pleasant Grove he 

has taught 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. His favorite thing about teaching 

is watching his students 

grow academically. Mr. 

Moore is a local who grew 

up in Pleasant Grove and 

attended Pleasant Grove 

School and East Nicolaus 

High School. His children 

also attended Pleasant 

Grove and East Nicolaus 

schools. If there was 

a trophy for coach of the 

year, Mr. Moore would 

have 17.

Responding to recent concerns, 

the Twin Rivers Unified School 

District will be conducting a series 

of public engagement activities 

designed to collect constructive 

feedback on the role of the police 

department. 

“I’m very concerned about the issues 

raised recently by community 

members and media reports,” said 

Superintendent Frank Porter. “In 

order to effectively keep our students, 

staff, and families safe, we 

need our community and police department 

to be on the same page.” 

“We have also received a lot of 

community support for the Twin 

Rivers Police Department (TRPD). 

There are many people out there 

who appreciate their work during 

these times of diminishing public 

resources for safety and social 

services,” said Porter. 

The engagement plans involve 

in-person community dialogs and 

opportunities to provide online 

feedback over the next 4-6 weeks. 

Specific dates and times will be 

released as locations are confirmed. 

The engagement effort will be 

structured as an opportunity to 

check in with parents and community 

residents on TRPD and receive 

specific input on proposed roles, 

jurisdiction, culture and climate, 

service, strengths of the department, 

and ways to improve. 

Part of the effort will involve 

educating the public about the 

history of school police and the 

specific training and background 


Spotlighting Our Schools 

Deliberate Outreach and Engagement 

Planned to Check in with Community on Role 

of Twin Rivers Police 

RIDDLES!!! 

of TRPD. For example, it is not 

widely known that TRPD employs 

many former sheriff department 

officers and half the officers attended 

the Sacramento County 

Sheriff’s Department Academy 

as part of their training. At Twin 

Rivers school sites, TRPD provides 

a wide variety of safety services, 

including traffic safety around 

campuses, immediate investigation 

on missing children reports, protection 

of district property, and immediate 

response to campus crisis 

situations. TRPD also serves in a 

preventive role, providing training 

and classes on bullying, gang 

prevention, Neighborhood Watch 

programs, bicycle safety, and cyber 

bullying. 

Another aspect of the educating 

process will be a review of the 

ways in which members of the 

community can submit concerns 

and complaints. In addition to a 

direct complaint to TRPD which 

is handled in accordance with the 

process outlined in the State Penal 

Code, community members can 

also submit concerns directly to the 

district Department of Family and 

Community Involvement. 

“To better serve community needs, 

we need specific, constructive suggestions 

on our police role and to 

move the discussion to thoughtful 

conversations about safety,” said 

Porter. 

1. How many bees does it take to make a pound of honey? 

2. What percentage of the coastline of the United States is in 

Alaska? 

3. Next to Warsaw what US city has the largest Polish population? 

4. Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, carries the designation 

M-1. Why? 

ANSWERS: 

1. 100,000 2. More than half. 3. Chicago 

4. It was the first paved road in the US. 

HIGHLANDS ALUMNI 

ASSOCIATION WANTS YOU 

Highlands High School’s official Alumni 

Association was formed in 2007 with the express purpose 

of being of service to and supportive of Highlands High 

School and its staff and students. 

The 2008 50 year Gala , which attracted over 3,000 

students, alumni and community members, was a 

result of our efforts to make the community aware of 

Highlands’ proud history. 

We have awarded $5000 in scholarships since 

2008. We are creating a Highlands High School Museum 

that will be open to the public and will be housed right 

at the school.. We have donated our time and money 

to beautify the area around the Coach Don Gilbert 

Memorial, including a mural that was designed by 

Highlands students and painted by the art teacher. We are 

currently looking for alumni to help with tutoring the 

students in Geometry. 

In addition to helping Highlands, we hold dinner 

dances, fund raisers and regular general meetings that are 

open to all. We’d love to hear your thoughts about other 

ways to be involved in the school and your creative ideas 

for fund raising and increasing membership by providing 

opportunities for the alumni to be involved. 

In order to continue helping Highlands High 

School in current and future endeavors, we need to 

increase our membership. The membership fee is $10 

per year or $25 for three years/ $40 for five years. We 

need members from all classes and would love to have 

you join us. Highlands Alumni Association website and 

membership team are available to help you advertise 

your reunions. If you are planning a reunion in 2012, 

contact us with your reunion information, including 

graduation year and contact person planning the event, at 

Highlands 

Alumni Association, P.O. Box 794, North Highlands, CA 

95660, 

Attention: Membership Team 

Remember, if you’re interested in the only 

Highlands Alumni Association that is affiliated with and 

supportive of Highlands High School, please come to 

our next general meeting at 11:00 a.m. on December 3 at 

SAFE Credit Union on Watt Avenue to see what we’re 

all about. 

Check out our website at www.highlandshighalumni.com.


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Volume 4, Number 12 - North Country News, December, 2011.

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